Fowl tendon pulling machine



Feb. 23, i:q H. INE

` FOWL TENDON PULLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OOJC. 5, 1951 INVEN'TOR. FzcmK Hin@ BY @YIM QY/ama/V .mm .EE

ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 F. |NE 2,669,748

FOWL TENDON PULLING MACHINE Fil6d`OGb. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l FIG`3.

INVENTOR. Frank HJne ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 4UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE FOWL TENDON PVIlLLING MACHINE Frank H. Ine, Milwaukee,i Wis.

Application October 5, 1951', Serial No. .249,829

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This invention relates tol a fowl preparation machine and particularly relates to. a tendon puller and hock cutter apparatus employed in the preparation of turkeys or other fowl for market.

In order to malte` fowl, such as turkey, more suitable for carving and edibility, it has been found advisable to remove the tendons from the legs of the fowl. It is customary practice to cut off the legs of the fowl at the hoek joint. However, if this is done, the` tendons remain in the legs above the hock joint and are difficult, if notY almost impossible, to remove. The present invention is` therefore directed to an apparatus wherein both legs of the fowl to be prepared are rst broken belowthe hook- The broken legs are then moved away from the hoek joint, and the tendons areI pulledV from the leg below and above the hook joint. Thereafter, the legs are cut atl the hock joint in the machine to complete preparation of the legs of the fowl.

One object of the invention is. to provide a combination tendon puller and hoek cutter wherein removal of the. tendons and cutting of the hook can be accomplished in a relatively simple coordinated operation.

A further object is to provide a machine wherein the tendons are pulled from the legs of a fowl above the hook` joint.

Another object is to provide a machine which is adjustable to remove tendons and cut hocks of birds of different sizes and lengths of' legs.

Other objects of thel invention will appear hereinafter in connection with the following description of an embodiment ofthe invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation from the right side of the machinev of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken on line. 3 3. of' Figure 1 with the legs of a fowl located in the machine;`

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top. plan View showing the legs of a` fowl in place ready to have the legs broken and the. tendons removed and` illustrating the adjustability of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 4,. but after the legs havev been broken and the tendons removed;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing cutting of the legs of afowl at the hock joint;`

Fig. 7 is` a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention; and

2. Fig. 8 is asection taken on line 88= of Fig. T. Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a machine comprising a flanged. table or top I supported from the floor at each corner by flanged legs 2 and which are braced by flanged frame member 3 extending between the legs. Cross braces 4 are interposed'. between the 1ongitudinal frame braces to support some of' the equipment necessary to operate the machine;

The rear portion of top I` comprises a raised channel member 5 which is provided. with a longitudinal slot t. in the central portion thereof. Directly beneath slot 6 and` spaced therefrom is a bar ly which is secured atv each end by brackets 8 to the bottom of channel 51. Bar 'I supports thereon a tube 9v which is freely movable longitudinally of the bar.

At the left side of bar l, asr seen in Fig. 1, the puller I0 of the apparatus is. welded to tube 9 and extends upwardly therefrom through slot 6 and for a substantial` distance above channel 5 (see Fig. 3'). Puller Illy is a at plate which extends along slot 6 and has.` a central slot I I therein with a tapered mouth and of a dimension to' receive the legs I2v of the fowl, as will be described; Puller I0 is moved by tube 9 from one side to the` other of the longitudinal slot. E. in channel 5.

The longitudinal movement. of tube 9. is. ace complished by operation of the cylinder I3 and piston Ill. Cylinder I3 extends longitudinally beneath channel 5` at the left side of the table, as seen in Figure l, while` tube 9 and bar l are shown as located within channel 5. Cylinder I3 is suitably secured` at the left side to the crossilanged brace of table top I and at the right side to the rear longitudinal brace of top I. Piston I4 extends from the right side of cylinder I3 and is connected to tube 9 by a bracket I5, which is secured to the end of the piston and welded as at 9b to tube il. Consequently, any movement of piston I4 results in longitudinal movement of tube 9 and the puller IIl. Cylinder I3 is pref,- erablydouble acting and is connected at each end to the actuating valve It by air hoses Il.. Valve I6 communicates with a source of air, not shown, and is actuated by the foot` pedal I8 to move piston I4 in one direction or the other. By providing the double-acting cylinder I3, it is possible to accomplish the breaking and consequent tendon removal operation by movement of puller I0 in either direction within slot 6.

Legs I2 of the fowl must be held at the hoek joint I9 in order thatpuller I0 can break the legs and pull out the tendons 20. The holding of the legs is accomplished by upright members or breakers 2|. The breakers 2l may be provided from a single plate, as shown, the bottom edge of which is welded to a fiat plate 22 and which has a central slot 23 corresponding in dimensions to that of the cross-section of the legs of the largest fowl to be prepared. Slot 23 also corresponds to the dimensions of slot Il in puller I0. The slot between breakers 2l, however, is less than the cross-section of the hock joint of the fowl, so that the hock it of the fowl will not move through the space, but will engage breakers 2l to hold the fowl against the force of puller l0, as it moves longitudinally to break the legs of the fowl and pull out the tendons.

Fig. 3 illustrates the legs of a fowl disposed in the puller slot and between the breakers 2l preparatory to movement of the puller to break the legs of the fowl. The claws 24 of the fowl are initially slightly removed from the puller Il). In operation of the device, however, as the puller moves, the legs of the fowl are first broken and the slack is then taken up between the puller and claws and the tendons are pulled out as the hock joint of the leg is held against breakers 2i, and the claws are held by puller l0.

Plate 22, on which breakers 2l are secured, is bolted to channel 5 adjacent the left side of the puller slot E but outwardly removed of the slot to space the breakers 2i from puller i0. However, bolt holes 25 in plate 22 are elongated so that plate 22, and consequently breakers 2 l, can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly as respects puller l5 to handle birds with different thickness and length of legs.

The description of the breakers has been made with reference to the breakers shown at the left side of the machine in Figure 1. However, a second set of breakers, generally designated with the numeral 26, is located at the right side of the machine, and the description is also applicable to them. By having a set of breakers il at each side of puller slot 5, puller l does not need to be returned to its starting position, but can break and pull from each side of the machine through operation of the double-acting cylinder I3, which has been described. This results in the saving of air as the piston does not need to be returned to starting position. The second set of breakers can, of course, be eliminated or not used if the demands of the installation only require one set of breakers.

Fig. 4 shows the legs of a fowl located in place preparatory to the breaking and tendon removal operation. Fig. 5 illustrates the legs as broken and the tendons being pulled from the upper legs. Figs. 4 and 5 also illustrate the adjustability of the apparatus.

Thus, as seen in Fig. 4, a flanged spacer plate 2 is bolted to the left breaker 2l with the flange of plate 2l being disposed in the space between breakers 2l to decrease the cross-section of the space to handle birds with smaller legs. A similar spacer plate can, of course, also be applied to the right breaker 2l and to either of the breakers shown at the right side of the machine. A flanged spacer plate 25 is also shown as bolted to puller I0 with the flange of the plate disposed in vertical slot il to decrease the cross-section of the slot. The spacer plates described are employed when birds with smaller legs are to be prepared.

The use of the machine described is further improved by locating a cutting device between the spaced breaker units `so that after the legs of the 4 fowl have been broken and the tendons removed, the legs of the bird can be cut at the hock joint in the same machine and by the same operator.

The cutting device comprises a stationary blade 29 and a movable blade 30.

Blade 29 is secured to the front side of channel 5 of table top l, midway between the two sets of breakers 2l. Blade 29 is curved, and the uppermost part of the blade is substantially flush with the upper surface of channel 5.

Movable blade 35 is recessed complementary to blade 29 and is received within handle 3|, to which it is bolted, so that it can be readily replaced or removed for sharpening. I-Iandle 3l is pivoted to the front side of channel 5 by bolt 32 and extends through a slot in table top l and is pivoted, as at 33, to piston 34 of the hydraulic cylinder 35. Blade 30 is guided against blade 29 by the retainer 36 which is secured to channel 5.

Cylinder 35 is pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 3l, which is secured to one of the crossbraces 4.

Cylinder 35 is double-acting and is connected by air hoses 38 to Valve 39, which is connected to a source of air, not shown. Actuation of the valve 35 to let air into one or the other side of cylinder 35 to move piston 34 is accomplished by foot pedal 35. A safety feature of the operation is that blade 35 is always in the down or cutting position when the foot valve is released. This position of blade 35 is illustrated in full lines in Figure l. 30 is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure l.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate other ways in which parts of the breakers and puller portion of the machine may be constructed.

In Fig. 7 there is shown two separate plates 4| from which upwardly extend the breakers 2m. Both of the plates 4l are adjustable axially with respect to the puller ita shown in Fig. 7 by means of elongated bolt holes in which bolts it? are located to secure plates il to channel 5d. Also one of the plates lli, such as for example the left plate, is secured to channel 5a by its bolts 42 which extend through longitudinally elongated bolt holes d3 so that left plate 4l can be adjusted with respect to the right plate lll to increase or decrease the space or slot M between the breakers to handle the legs or" fowl of various size. The puller ma would employ the spacer element 28, not shown, as described previously herein.

Figs. 7 and 8 also illustrate breakers 21a and f puller la with the upper portion 45 of the breakers curved slightly toward the fowl and the upper portion 43 of the puller curved away from the fowl. It has been found that with this construction the curved portions of the breakers and puller tends to prevent the fowl from slipping out of these members as the legs are broken and the tendons pulled out.

In the operation of the apparatus, the legs l2 of a fowl, such as a turkey, are laid crosswise of the table between the breakers 2l at the left side of the table and in the slot il of puller l0, which is aligned with the space between breakers 2l. The turkey in this position is held by the operator, so that the legs of the bird lie one on top of the other. The hooks i9 of the bird are held against the breakers 2 l. The operator then steps on foot pedal i8, and puller l0 is immediately pushed to the right within slot 6 by the piston and tube, as described.V This results first in breaking the legs of the fowl and then in taking up of the legs between the puller and claws and The upward position of blade pulling of the tendons 2l! from the legs, as shown in Fig. 5, as the legs are held by the hock and claws. The operator thereafter releases the foct pedal I8, but puller l0 remains at the right side of puller slot The operator then dispcses ci' the legs and tendons and thereafter lays the hock joints I9 of the bird across the stationary blade 29, after first stepping en foot pedal lll to raise cutting blade 39. When the heck joint is in place, foot pedal l0 is released and blade 3i! descends to sever the hock joints and give the bird a clean appearance at the end cf the stubs of the legs. The severed portions of the legs fall down through rectangular slot lll in channel member 5.

The operator then takes a second bird and lays its legs in the breakers 2l and puller ill at the right side of the machine. Upon stepping on foot pedal I8, puller i9 is new moved tc the left side of the machine to break the legs of the Y secon-d turkey and pull out the tendons. The operator then cuts off the legs of the fowl with the blades 29 and 30 at the center of the machine in the same manner as described with respect to the first turkey.

The invention provides a machine whereby a single operator can remove tendons and cut the legs of a turkey or other fowl in a few simple and compact operations. By providing a machine which removes tendons by pulling them from place, the tendons are removed substan tially in total, and the removal of the tendons is accomplished by a simple operation. Another advantage is that both legs of the fowl are broken and the tendons removed therefrom at the same time in a single operation.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fowl preparation machine, a support, a puller member secured to said support and movable reciprocally from a first position to a second position, means on said puller member holding the legs of a fowl in engagement with said puller member, first upright breaker means secured to said support adjacent said first position and having a slot therebetween for align* ment with the means on the puller member when the latter is at said first position to receive the legs of a fowl in said slot and with the legs dis posed in engagement with the means on the puller member, a second breaker means secured to the support adjacent said second position and having a slot therebetween for alignment with the means on the puller member when the latter is at said second position to receive the legs of a fowl in said slot and with the legs disposed in engagement with the means on the puller memu ber, and double acting single means to drive the puller member reciprocally of the support in either direction and laterally away from either said first or second breaker means to break the legs of a fowl and pull out the tendons as the puller member moves away from a respective breaker means.

2. In a fowl preparation machine, a support having a longitudinal slot therein, a bar secured to the support beneath said slot, a tube freely movable on said bar, a movable flat plate secured to the tube and extending upwardly of the support through the slot in the support, said plate having a central vertical slot of a dimension to receive the legs of a fowl disposed one above the other, a stationary fiat plate secured to the face of said support along side of the longitudinal slot in the support with upright means extending upwardly therefrom and having a vertical slot therein in alignment with the slot in the movable plate to receive the legs of a fowl laid one above the other in said upright means and the slot in the movable plate, and a hydraulic cylinder secure-d to said support and having the piston thereof connected to said tube to drive the tube and movable plate longitudinally of the support with the movable plate moving laterally past the stationary plate, said movement of the movable plate effecting breaking of the legs of the fowl and removal of the tendons as the legs are held in the slots of the movable plate and upright means by the claws and hock joints of the fowl.

3. In a fowl preparation machine, a support having a longitudinal slot therein, a bar secured to the support beneath said slot, a tube freely movable on said bar, a movable flat plate secured to the tube and extending upwardly of the support through the slot in the support, said plate having a central vertical slot of a dimension to receive the legs of a fowl disposed one above the other, a stationary flat plate bolted to the face of said support along side of the longitudinal slot in the support and having elongated bolt holes to adjust the plate laterally with respect to the movable plate, a flat upright plate secured to the stationary plate and having a vertical slot therein in alignment with the slot in the movable plate to receive the legs of a fowl laid one above the other as the legs are disposed crosswise of the support within the slots in the movable and upright plates, and a hydraulic cylinderl secured to said support and having the piston thereof connected to said tube to drive the tube and movable plate longitudinally of the support with the movable plate moving laterally past the stationary plate, said movement of the movable plate effecting breaking of the legs of the fowl and removal of the tendons as the legs are held in the slots of the movable plate and upright means by the claws and hock joints of the fowl` FRANK H'. INE.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 706,853 Scannell Aug. 12, 1902 787,025 Congdon Apr. 11, 1905 2,278,162 Courlang et al Mar. 31, 1942 2,425,077 Alexander Aug. 5, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,912 Great Britain 1890 4,695 Great Britain 1892 

